How to Change the Stucco Color

The easiest and most efficient way to change the color of a stucco house is to paint it. Stucco may be painted any color that you desire. Painting stucco is similar to painting other surfaces, although it does require a little more time and patience since the texture of the stucco is porous. The majority of the job is in the preparation. Once the house is properly prepared the actual painting will be relatively easy and enjoyable.

Things You'll Need

Putty knife

Pressure washer

Garden hose

Masonry soap

Acrylic masonry primer

Tarps (paper and plastic)

Blue painter's tape

Rollers

Extension pole

Paint brushes

Elastomeric caulk and sealant

Caulk gun

Masonry acrylic paint

Examine the surface. Walk around the house and investigate the condition of the stucco. Pay attention to details such as peeling paint, dirt and rust spots, water damage, mildew, cracks, and efflorescence deposits. The latter is a powder that forms when water migrates through the stucco and forms salt deposits on the exterior wall.

Clean the stucco with a pressure washer. (Pressure washers are sometime referred to as power washers.) A pressure washer is the most efficient way to wash a stucco house. They may be rented for a whole day or half a day at home-improvement stores or at local equipment rental businesses. Pressure washers use various tips on the spray nozzle that control the amount of water pressure. Use a low pressure tip to wash the stucco. The tip needs to provide enough pressure to remove dirt and debris but not so much as to damage the stucco. Pressure wash the stucco one section at a time. Start at the top of a section and work your way down. Use masonry soaps and cleaners for areas that are particularly dirty. Masonry soaps and cleaners are available at home-improvement stores or a local hardware store.

Apply a primer. Use an acrylic masonry primer and apply it with a brush and roller. Protect the surfaces such as windows, doors, steps, and air conditioning units. If you are intending to apply the finish paint with a paint sprayer then protect these surfaces with plastic or paper tarps. If you are applying the finish coat with a brush and roller than be careful around windows and doors. Place a tarp over the steps and the air conditioning unit. Apply the primer first with the roller and then use a brush for the areas the roller can't reach.

Fill cracks and crevices with caulk and sealant. Caulking will prevent water damage and also give the house a more solid and complete finish. The best caulk to use is elastomeric caulk. It can be found at any hardware store. Apply the caulk with a caulk gun around windows, trim, doors, and cracks. Use elastomeric sealant for cracks that are larger than 1/4 inch.

Repair damaged areas with a patching compound. Chip off all loose and peeling paint. Rinse the area with water and a wire brush to remove grit and debris. Apply the patching compound in two stages. Apply the first coat to make a smooth surface that is level with the adjoining areas. Give it time to dry. Apply a second coat and try to match the texture of the stucco. This is the difficult part. If the damaged area is large it is a good idea to hire a professional contractor to do this part of the job.

Paint the stucco. Use a high-quality acrylic masonry paint. Apply with a roller/brush combination or a paint sprayer/roller combination. With a sprayer it is necessary to protect areas of the house as mentioned in Step 3. If you are using a paint sprayer find a friend to help you. As you spray the first coat have the friend follow behind going over the wall with a roller. This helps to work the paint into all the different textures and crevices. When applying paint with a brush and roller start by cutting in with the brush. Then connect the roller to an extension pole and pour the paint into a paint tray and start rolling one section at a time. Dip the roller in the tray and begin by applying the paint in the midsection of the wall and then roll evenly from the top to the bottom. This prevents heavy spots and runs from forming.

Allow the first coat to dry. Drying time can take 24 hours depending on weather and humidity. Apply a second coat with a sprayer. The roller is not necessary for the second coat.